Welcome to Your Week in Asia.
China’s retaliatory tariffs on some U.S. goods are expected to come into force this week, as the two heavyweight economies launch a fresh trade war.
India’s leader Narendra Modi will be in Washington to meet with his American counterpart Donald Trump after the U.S. deportation of undocumented Indians sparked protest by Modi’s opposition rivals.
Chip group TSMC holds its first-ever board meeting in the U.S., Indonesia kicks off an international motor show and Malaysia reports its latest economic growth figures.
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MONDAY
Tit-for-tat tariffs
China’s new targeted tariffs against the U.S. are due to take effect, as Beijing retaliates against President Donald Trump’s blanket 10% additional levy on Chinese goods. Observers are waiting to see what comes of an anticipated but unconfirmed phone call between Trump and his counterpart Xi Jinping. But for now, China will tax American coal and liquefied natural gas at a rate of 15%, with a 10% duty on crude oil, farm equipment and certain vehicles.
Modi meets Western leaders
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits Paris, where, along with French leader Emmanuel Macron, he will co-chair the AI Action Summit to be held on Monday and Tuesday. Modi then heads to the U.S. for a meeting with newly elected President Donald Trump in Washington during a visit on Wednesday and Thursday, becoming one of the first world leaders to meet with Trump in his second term. Issues of mutual concern, such as immigration and trade, are likely to figure in their talks.
BYD’s self-driving showcase
BYD shows off its progress on autonomous driving technology at its Shenzhen headquarters in an evening news conference. The Chinese EV giant aims to “make advanced autonomous driving technology affordable for everyone” with its “God’s Eye” system. Analysts expect the company to share insights from recent road tests, unveil new model pipelines, and introduce enhanced intelligent features for its lower-priced vehicles. The anticipation has already fueled a surge in BYD and related autonomous driving stocks.
U.S.-South Korea drills
The South Korean and U.S. militaries host a live-fire combined training exercise at a time of transition in both countries. The drills are routine, but carry extra significance as policymakers ponder what kind of defense policy the Trump administration will settle on for the Korean peninsula, where the South is mired in a protracted political crisis.
Earnings: DBS, Shiseido
TUESDAY
Philippines election season
The Philippines kicks off campaigning for midterm elections. This year’s race, in which Filipinos will elect officials at the local and national level, comes after lawmakers decided to kickstart the process to impeach and eventually remove Vice President Sara Duterte from public office.
TSMC board meeting
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. is set to hold a board meeting in the U.S. for the first time ever on Tuesday (local time). Directors will have a chance to visit the company’s Arizona plant, its first cutting-edge facility overseas, where production has recently started. Expected announcements include senior management promotions and other progress updates.
WEDNESDAY
Earnings: SoftBank, SMIC, Commonwealth Bank
THURSDAY
Nissan-Honda merger
All eyes will be on comments from executives at Nissan Motor and Honda Motor during their latest earnings calls after the two Japanese automakers suspended merger talks — possibly ending a tie-up that would have created the world’s third-biggest vehicle producer. Analysts have forecast that struggling Nissan is on track for a 226 billion yen ($1.5 billion) loss in the current fiscal year to March.
Indonesian motor show
Jakarta plays host to the Indonesia International Motor Show (IIMS), with nearly 30 automakers set to show off their latest offerings, including Toyota, Mitsubishi and Nissan. Japanese carmakers account for about 90% of new car sales in Indonesia, but they are struggling in the electric vehicle sector against South Korean rival Hyundai, which already has an EV plant in Indonesia, as well as China’s BYD and Vietnam’s VinFast.
Earnings: Sony
Monetary Policy: Philippines
FRIDAY
Earnings: Suntory
GDP: Malaysia
